School Board: District Four Candidates Forum

School review, future challenges and agreeing or disagreeing with the decision to fire the previous board were among the topics discussed during Tuesday night's candidates forum at Hebbville Academy. The four people running for school board in district four each voiced their opinions in front of about 50 people. Candidate Brian Eisener says there has to be change to make students more successful in learning.



Meanwhile, another candidate, Karen Reinhardt, says it all starts with the younger children.



On another issue, candidate Fred Daugherty says it was a good choice to reduce the amount of school board seats.



Another candidate, Jennifer Naugler, agrees.



School Board elections for district four will be held Saturday until 7pm.

Sod Turning For South Queens School In Liverpool

The sod will be turned for the new South Queens School project tomorrow in Liverpool. Premier Darrell Dexter will join MLA Vicki Conrad for the ground breaking ceremony. The province has committed $16 million dollars towards the project. The South Queens School will be home to grades 6 to 8, with grade 9 students moving to Liverpool Regional High School. It's expected to be ready for classes in September 2013. The ceremony begins at 11AM at the school construction site on Waterloo Street.

School Board Candidates Forum At Hebbville Academy

School Board candidates from district four will take part in a forum tonight at Hebbville Academy. The school advisory councils from Hebbville, Pentz, Petite and Newcombville are hosting the event. The candidates in that area include are Brian Eisener, Karen Reinhardt, Jennifer Naugler and Fred Daugherty. The forum gets underway at 7pm.

MODL Mothballs Riverport School

Steps are starting to be taken to demolish the former Riverport School. The Municipality of Lunenburg has decided to mothball the school and continue to lobby the province to take responsibility of the building. Councillor for the area, Don Zwicker, says it's time to cut their losses on the school. He says they have to do what's right for the municipality and the community.



Zwicker says the common theme with residents is to get rid of the building. A recent assessment revealed the municipality could spend roughly $300,000 to demolish the school.

Second Day Of Advance Polls Open

Today is the second and final day for advanced polling in several communities around the South Shore. Advance polls opened at noon for residents living within the Municipality of Lunenburg, Town of Lunenburg, Region of Queens, Mahone Bay, Town of Shelburne and Municipality of Shelburne. Residents will be able to vote via the paper ballot at their designated polling stations. Voting will take place until 8PM. E-voting continues in Bridgewater and Chester in advance of election day on Saturday. Election day is October 20th.

Jordan Bay Family Provides Boston Christmas Tree

A Shelburne County family has been selected to donate this year's Nova Scotia Christmas tree to Boston. The province chose Paul and Jan Hicks of Jordan Bay. This year's tree is about 70 years old and stands close to the road on the Hicks' front yard. Each year since 1971, the province has sent Boston a large Christmas tree for the help provided after the devastating Halifax Explosion of Dec. 6, 1917. Close to 2,000 people were killed and hundreds were left hurt and homeless. A crew from Natural Resources will cut the tree on the Hicks' property during a public ceremony November 13. The province will truck the 50 foot white spruce to Boston as part of the annual tradition. The tree lighting will take place on the Boston Common on November 29.

Lunenburg Mayoralty Candidate Seeks More Openess & Public Consultation



Ron Stockton

He wants to be mayor of the Town of Lunenburg and Ron Stockton believes he's got a good shot of winning in this Saturday's municipal election. The former labour lawyer says there are a lot of residents willing to help him move things forward while keeping the town's heritage intact. Stockton is promising openess of government and greater public consultation if elected. He says in this day and age, its a must that government is managed that way.



Stockton says he'd also like to have more co-operation with neighboring municipalities. He and former Lunenburg deputy mayor and councillor Rachel Bailey are seeking the mayor's office, being vacated by the retiring Laurence Mawhinney.

CTF Calls For Investigation Into Illegal Cigarette Sales

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says its almost criminal whats happening with tax-free cigarettes being provided by Ottawa to native reserves across this province. Last year, the CTF revealed millions of dollars were being lost in black market tobacco products. Now, spokesman Kevin Lacey tells the problem is even worse. He says according to numbers obtained by FOIPOP from Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, over 137,000 cigarettes were sold tax-free for the personal use of Status Indians in 2011-12. There are only 14,989 status Indians in Nova Scotia, making up 1.5 per cent of the entire population. Yet, 13.3 per cent of all tobacco sold in the province was sold on reserve, officially for the personal use of Status Indians. He says tax-payers are on the losing end and tens of millions of dollars are involved.



Lacey says tobacco products are being sold off-reserve. The CTF is calling for an investigation.

Election Most Interesting One In Years: Political Scientist

For the first time in years, the municipal election on the South Shore has sparked considerable interest. Thats the conclusion of political scientist Agar Adamson of Wolfville. He tells us, with 3 mayors not re-offering after many years in office, the political landscape will change to some degree after October 20th. Thats particularly true with Lunenburg mayor Laurence Mawhinney and District of Queens mayor John Leefe leaving after a combined 45 years of service.



Mawhinney has been mayor of Lunenburg for 33 years and Leefe has been mayor of the District of Queens for 12 and an MLA and cabinet minister for years prior to that. Mayor Carol Publicover of Bridgewater is also leaving office after 8 years.